Australian indie-pop sensation Amy Shark is forgoing the summer down under to tour our frigid lands this March, hitting town with her acclaimed first EP, Night Thinker, in tow. The Queensland-born singer-songwriter made an impact back in 2016 with her single Adore, going triple platinum in her home country and making an impressive Top 40 dent on the American charts, helped along by an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Opening is Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter MILCK.

When: Thursday, March 1 at 8 p.m.

Where: Starlite Room

Admission: $17.50, available at the door or in advance from the Starlite website

New works by Caitlin Bodewitz at the SNAP Gallery, until March 31.Supplied

Art show

Running concurrently over at the SNAP Gallery are a couple of new exhibits by two Edmonton connected artists. U of A grad Tomoyo Ihaya uses video, installations, and mixed media drawings for her show, Eyes Water Fire, telling stories of friends who have lived as refugees. Meanwhile, Edmonton resident Caitlin Bodewitz looks at endangered animals like polar bears, caribou, and sea otters in her own show, Balance.

When: Until March 31. Gallery hours are Tuesday and Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m.; Thursday, noon to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.

Blood of Our Soil is at the Westbury Theatre, March 1 to 9.Mat Simpson

Blood of Our Soil

Local playwright and actress Lianna Makuch depicts the historic troubles of the Ukrainian people as they struggle against Stalin and Hitler in Blood of Our Soil, starting Thursday at the Westbury Theatre. The story of Hania, a Canadian woman who travels to her ancestral homeland to find out more about her Baba’s life during the Second World War, Blood of Our Soil is also something of a commentary on recent hostilities between the current Putin regime and Ukraine. Directed by Patrick Lundeen, featuring performances by Makuch, Oscar Derkx, Julia Guy, Maxwell Lebeuf, and more.

When: Thursday, March 1 to Friday, March 9. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. No performance on Monday.

Where: Westbury Theatre, ATB Financial Arts Barns, 10330 84 Ave.

Admission: $22, adults; $17, students and seniors, available from Fringe Theatre Adventures

Alice Major’s new book is being release at the U of A Observatory on March 1.Rebecca Lippiatt

Alice Major

Local author Alice Major has found the perfect venue for the launch of her latest collection of poetry, Welcome to the Anthropocene. Science and literature intersect in her 11th work, as Major persists with her longstanding question of where we fit in the universe, finding both comedy and tragedy in the search. Special guest Prof. Duane Froese will be on hand to talk about what exactly the Anthropocene is, and how we know we’re in it.

When: Thursday, March 1 at 7 p.m.

Where: U of A Observatory, at the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science, 11335 Saskatchewan Drive

Tampa Bay’s Iced Earth have picked a pretty good time to arrive in town, though likely they’re not aware of how little we want to be reminded of current weather conditions. The long-running, always-changing metal veterans only have multi-instrumentalist Jon Schaffer as an original member, but despite multiple lineup shufflings they’ve continued to stay relevant, with last year’s Incorruptible gathering decent reviews. Opening are Sanctuary, Kill Ritual, and DIVINITY.

A Cappella Ensemble and Jazz Combo at Triffo Theatre at MacEwan University on March 3.Supplied

A Cappella Ensemble

MacEwan University’s Music Month kicks off this Saturday with a bang as two disparate groups take the stage at Triffo Theatre. There should be no surprises as the A Cappella Ensemble, led by John McMillan, explore interesting and beautiful vocal harmonies, while Kent Sangster’s Jazz Combo find room to improvise in a selection of works. Music Month continues through March and early April, with performances by MacEwan big bands, percussion ensembles, and showcase bands.

Marvelous Magic Carnival at Bonnie Doon Community League on March 4.Supplied

Marvelous Magic

Games, prizes, face painting, hot dogs, a puppet performance by The Joe Show and more are among the enticements for families to attend this year’s Marvelous Magic Carnival at the Bonnie Doon Community League. All proceeds from the event go to iKare4Kids, who are partnered with Ronald MacDonald House charities. Make sure to bring cash or a credit card, as there will be no ATM on site.

Lidia Khaner performs with the Alberta Baroque Ensemble at Robertson-Wesley on March 4.Supplied

Alberta Baroque Ensemble

What could possibly be better than an oboe? Why, two oboes, of course, as ESO players Lidia Khaner and Kara Loewer team with trumpet player Robin Doyon and the Alberta Baroquer Ensemble for an afternoon of Concertos for Oboe and Trumpet. Music includes Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Oboes in D Minor, Torelli’s Concerto for Trumpet in D Major, as well as works by Hertel, Fasch, Corelli, and Geminiani.

When: Sunday, March 4 at 3 p.m.

Where: Robertson-Wesley United Church, 10209 123 St.

Admission: $30, adults; $25, students and seniors; $15, youth. Available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square

Howard Yan performs with the Edmonton Youth Orchestra at the Winspear Centre on March 4.Supplied

Edmonton Youth Orchestra

The winners of this year’s Concerto Competition take the Winspear stage with the Edmonton Youth Orchestra to celebrate the 37th year of the annual event this Sunday afternoon. Evan Yin adds piano to Grieg’s Concerto in A Minor, while fellow keyboardist Howard Yan tackles Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, and mezzo-soprano Elise Noyes sings selections from Ravel and Roussel. The intermediate band rounds things out with an opening performance of the Allegro Moderato from Schubert’s Symphony No. 8.

When: Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m.

Where: Winspear Centre

Admission: $15, adults; $10, seniors and students. Available from Tix on the Square

Actress, comedian, and social activist Mary Walsh is finally coming to town after her STARfest event was cancelled last November. The Codco and This Hour Has 22 Minutes performer will be talking about her book Crying For the Moon, her first work of fiction. Peter Brown hosts this event, which will sell out sooner rather than later, so get your tickets fast!

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